PMK desires Arittapatti to be declared as ‘protected biodiversity zone’ to stop tungsten mining

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss addresses the folks of Arittapatti village in Madurai district, the place a tungsten mining challenge has been proposed, on Thursday
| Picture Credit score: R. Ashok

Accusing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin of making an attempt to “cheat” the folks of Madurai district by adopting a decision towards the proposed tungsten mining challenge in and round Arittapatti village, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Anbumani Ramadoss demanded that the State enact a legislation to safeguard all the 5,000 acres of land within the village by declaring it as a ‘protected biodiversity zone’.

Addressing the folks of Arittapatti and Vellalapatti on Thursday (December 26, 2024), Dr. Anbumani mentioned he wouldn’t enable the Union and State governments to amass even one cent of their farmlands for tungsten mining.

“Solely by declaring Arittapatti and the encircling 50 villages as ‘protected biodiversity zone’ on the strains of protected particular agriculture zone within the delta area can the federal government present a everlasting resolution to the proposed tungsten mining situation,” he mentioned.

Dr. Anbumani additionally accused the DMK authorities of being hand-in-glove with each the Centre and Vedanta Group — a subsidiary of which has gained the public sale for finishing up tungsten mining within the area. Merely adopting a decision towards tungsten mining is not going to forestall the hazard to the villages, he mentioned.

The MP mentioned he would stage a protest in entrance of the Tamil Nadu Meeting to press for a ‘protected biodiversity zone’ in the course of the ensuing session in January 2025. He warned that tungsten mining couldn’t solely wipe out fertile farmland but additionally the Tamil id within the close by heritage website on the Arittapatti hillock. It could be famous that the Tamil Nadu authorities had declared Arittapatti as a biodiversity heritage website in 2022.

“The farmers who’re feeding us could be rendered landless. Apart from, mining would additionally destroy a number of waterbodies, springs, and the habitats of a whole bunch of birds and animals,” he mentioned.

Social gathering normal secretary S. Vadivel Ravanan and treasurer Thilagabama had been additionally current.